Paraphonic mode, filter tracking, new presets and more are added in the update - plus a chance to win one of only 5 special edition models ever produced!

Novation's Bass Station is one of the most legendary synths in modern music, having featured on countless electronic tracks you know and love. Incredibly, it's 25 years old - and got an update with the Bass Station II hardware. Now to celebrate its anniversary, Novation has released a free 2.5 firmware update that adds great new features including paraphonic mode, filter tracking, envelope retriggering and much more. And to top it off there's a chance to win one of only 5 special edition models ever produced!

"To celebrate 25 years of Bass Station and thank users for their support, Novation is releasing the Bass Station II v2.5 firmware update and giving away a Bass Station II 25th Anniversary Edition – one of only five units off the production line!

To be in with a chance of winning the limited edition monosynth, join the Synth Owners Facebook group and like the competition post from 1-7 November 2018.

Bass Station II v2.5

The v2.5 firmware update adds some of the most requested features including filter tracking, paraphonic mode, microtuning and new preset Soundpacks. Installation couldn't be easier from the Novation Components content manager.

Paraphonic mode

Bass Station II is now a paraphonic monosynth, because you can control the pitches of each of the two oscillators separately in its single-voice architecture. Play two notes at a time rather than just one and get interesting interactions through the Ring and Filter Mod.

Filter tracking

Filter tracking was one of the most requested features. The filter includes variable keyboard tracking in Bass Station II v2.5 – the best for matching higher notes to increased brightness.

Envelope retriggering

Bass Station II's secret sound-design weapon is envelope retriggering. It’s now possible to configure your envelopes to retrigger once the decay stage has ended, opening up a whole range of new possibilities.

Oscillator error

Oscillator error introduces a small and adjustable random detune on each note-on event. This can be used to generate some very beautiful, subtle (or not) musical dissonance, very much in the same way that vintage synths do (because of the looser tolerance of their electronic components). Paraphonic mode makes it as dramatic as possible.

Microtuning editing

Completely control the frequency triggered by each key press, giving your scales another dimension.

New presets

Two new Soundpacks are in Components: Silver and Sinevibes. Silver's presets explore the v2.5 features and inspire new tracks and sound design. Sinevibes, designed by Sinevibes’ founder Artemij Pavlov, gives 101 classic Bass Station II presets. Bass Station II can now support a custom message display at start-up.

Hollin Jones was classically trained as a piano player but found the lure of blues and jazz too much to resist. Graduating from bands to composition then production, he relishes the chance to play anything with keys.
A sometime lecturer in videographics, music production and photography post production, Hollin has been a freelance writer on music technology and Apple topics for well over a decade, along the way publishing several books on audio software. He has been lead writer at a number of prominent music and technology publications.
As well as consultancy, full-time journalism, video production and professional photography, he occasionally plays Hammond, Rhodes and other keys for people who ask nicely.
Hollin is Contributing Editor at Ask.Audio.

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